Buddhism/Soul Contradiction - Atheist Nexus2018-05-24T20:25:10Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/buddhism-soul-contradiction?xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noOne removes oneself from the…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-02-24:2182797:Comment:21692452013-02-24T00:08:01.692ZGary Walshhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/GaryWalsh
<p>One removes oneself from the cycle of rebirth by realizing the true nature of reality and no longer trying to grasp what is illusory. Some modern Buddhists, such as Stephen Batchelor, author of Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist, have done away with the belief in rebirth. I think that perhaps many Buddhists, even many who were born into Buddhist cultures, have a poor grasp of the philisophical foundation of Buddhism. A good scholarly discussion of the concept of anatta is "Central Philosophy…</p>
<p>One removes oneself from the cycle of rebirth by realizing the true nature of reality and no longer trying to grasp what is illusory. Some modern Buddhists, such as Stephen Batchelor, author of Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist, have done away with the belief in rebirth. I think that perhaps many Buddhists, even many who were born into Buddhist cultures, have a poor grasp of the philisophical foundation of Buddhism. A good scholarly discussion of the concept of anatta is "Central Philosophy of Buddhism" by T.R.V. Murti. </p> It seems then that the Buddhi…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-02-23:2182797:Comment:21690002013-02-23T23:41:27.323ZNathaniel Summershttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/NathanielSummers
<p>It seems then that the Buddhist concept of reincarnation is more than a bit confusing. What point is there to even using that term when it is merely a string of consciousness? I get the concept that the consciousness of this generation flows into the next. However, how does one manage to remove themselves from this cycle? Is it merely the removal from the cycle of suffering? If that's the case, then that's probably about as unproductive a phrasing as the "observer" in quantum…</p>
<p>It seems then that the Buddhist concept of reincarnation is more than a bit confusing. What point is there to even using that term when it is merely a string of consciousness? I get the concept that the consciousness of this generation flows into the next. However, how does one manage to remove themselves from this cycle? Is it merely the removal from the cycle of suffering? If that's the case, then that's probably about as unproductive a phrasing as the "observer" in quantum mechanics.</p>
<p>Additionally, it seems to me like Nirvana, at that point, becomes meaningless for the individual and could never exist unless all were in Nirvana.</p>
<p>I've known a handful of people who claimed to be Buddhist, and they all seem to be of the opinion that the soul exists and that reincarnation is exactly as pop culture would have it. Perhaps these are simply new-agers who meditate and have therefore adopted that label.</p> In Buddhism, there is no soul…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-02-22:2182797:Comment:21687272013-02-22T03:48:15.897ZGary Walshhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/GaryWalsh
<p>In Buddhism, there is no soul or self. This is known as the doctrine of anatta. Another important doctrine is "dependent origination". This states that everything is an effect of pre-existing causes and is in turn a cause of other effects. Rebirth is an effect of causes in previous lives. There is no soul jumping from an old body to a new one. The incorrect belief that we are independent entities is one of the primary causes of suffering in the Buddhist view of things. The book "A Profound…</p>
<p>In Buddhism, there is no soul or self. This is known as the doctrine of anatta. Another important doctrine is "dependent origination". This states that everything is an effect of pre-existing causes and is in turn a cause of other effects. Rebirth is an effect of causes in previous lives. There is no soul jumping from an old body to a new one. The incorrect belief that we are independent entities is one of the primary causes of suffering in the Buddhist view of things. The book "A Profound Mind" by the Dalai Lama has a good explanation of this.</p>